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“Primary Goal is to Still Invest Into Children: Novak Djokovic Foundation Vows to Double donations in 2021

Published 12/06/2020, 5:00 AM EST

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When he is not fighting for titles, Novak Djokovic dabbles in charity.

The 17-time Grand Slam champion has a foundation to his name, which supports underprivileged children and their families back home in Serbia.

Novak Djokovic Foundation Announces ‘Season of Giving’ Campaign

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And in more work that underlines and illustrates the philanthropic side of the tennis superstar, the Novak Djokovic Foundation has announced the ‘Season of Giving’ campaign for the third straight year.

As part of the initiative, the Foundation will open preschools for needy children in Vajska and Ljubis, villages in Serbia. It has set its sights on raising 100,000 euros for the purpose.

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While Djokovic and his wife Jelena will contribute handsomely to the cause, donations for the project will also be sought elsewhere.

Djokovic, wife say their focus this year was to boost healthcare

The Serb and his wife released a joint statement underlining their pledge to support philanthropic causes.

“Considering the current pandemic situation, this year we primarily focused on healthcare, and with our donations, tried to assist the healthcare institutions in Serbia,”  read the statement undersigned by the couple.

“However, our primary goal is still to invest into children and their future,” it further said.

Djokovic Foundation started to rebuild preschools in Serbia last year

Through a similar campaign last year, the Foundation started to rebuild preschools in three municipal areas of Serbia.

As part of its crowd-sourcing effort, the Foundation, this year, has invited Djokovic’s fans across the globe to donate to Team Vajska and Team Ljubis.

 

“Our country is full of real little gems, but unfortunately, in smaller places, they often cannot develop their full potential because they do not have access to early education,” read the statement attributed to the Djokovics.

“This year has further demonstrated how important it is for children to attend preschool, particularly in a situation when parents are forced to work from home, and are not able to adequately dedicate their time to children,” it said.

via Reuters

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105 kids to benefit from Novak Djokovic Foundation’s latest initiative

The couple vowed to double every donation that is made in support of these causes.

“It should not be forgotten that there are still those who are not able to go to preschool even in normal circumstances. 

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“So this year, the goal is to open new preschools in Vajska and Ljubis villages, which will accommodate a total of 105 children. Each of these places has its own story, and we want to tell it to the whole world, with the help of those who believe in our mission.

“That is why we have decided to double every donation that you make this year again,” the couple said.

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On the career front, Djokovic finished the 2020 season as the World Number 1 and will be eyeing more titles next year. He did clinch his 17th Major title at the Australian Open this year but couldn’t end his four-year trophy lull at the season-ending ATP Finals.

 

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Written by:

Priyabrata Chowdhury

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Priyabrata Chowdhury is a tennis author for EssentiallySports. He has been a print journalist for a decade, producing news pages for leading national dailies such as the Hindustan Times and The New Indian Express. His passion for sports eventually drove him to tennis writing.
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